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Commissioners talk salary hikes, adjustments for employees

Citing the need to attract and retain qualified workers as the pull increases from neighboring counties and South Texas’ booming energy industry, Wilson County leaders are considering “cost-of-living” salary increases of 5 percent across-the-board for the 2015 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. . . .

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Franklin: A Google Groups mailing list would be just the answer. These groups are easy to setup and maintain.
I run two for two of my aviation groups. A-1 Skyraiders and the Stinsons Flight of the Daedalinas. If some one ... More ›

Franklin: A Google Groups mailing list would be just the answer. These groups are easy to setup and maintain.
I run two for two of my aviation groups. A-1 Skyraiders and the Stinsons Flight of the Daedalinas. If some one want to set one up, I'll help them get it up and running.
LarryJohn (La Vernia)

Grouch..I wish we had a user forum. Would be nice to be able to comment on various things off topic from the stories WCN has. Be able to share info and otherwise be more laid back on a more personal basis... Hint Hint Webmaster......

Franklin ... I live in your old neighborhood.
You might be interested in knowing the
RSAF (Royal Singapore Air Force) has a helicopter
detachment stationed in Grand Prairie. They
occupy the land adjacent to the slough from ... More ›

Franklin ... I live in your old neighborhood.
You might be interested in knowing the
RSAF (Royal Singapore Air Force) has a helicopter
detachment stationed in Grand Prairie. They
occupy the land adjacent to the slough from near SE
14th to north end of Hardy. Your hometown has an
amazing history of aviation and still hold production
records set in the WW II era. BTW, a sizeable park
still exists between the shores of Mountain Creek lake
and Hardy.

Ha ha ha..Very true Grouch.. Btw, I miss seeing the Air Show from NAS Dallas. Always loved watching the Blue Angels over there. I lived over off Hardy Rd on Mountain Creek Lake,before that city of dallas guy sold off the park ... More ›

Ha ha ha..Very true Grouch.. Btw, I miss seeing the Air Show from NAS Dallas. Always loved watching the Blue Angels over there. I lived over off Hardy Rd on Mountain Creek Lake,before that city of dallas guy sold off the park he bought from GP. Now there are all houses there at the park I grew up in. I literally lived across the street from it. :-)

Yep, With a cell phone in one hand,
a beer or soft drink in the other, a cigarette
in the mouth driving home in a ego boosting
car to watch cable TV, it's really tough to live
off $25000.00. Poor pitiful Pearl.
In the ... More ›

Yep, With a cell phone in one hand,
a beer or soft drink in the other, a cigarette
in the mouth driving home in a ego boosting
car to watch cable TV, it's really tough to live
off $25000.00. Poor pitiful Pearl.
In the same mindset of todays 'WCN thought
for the day', quite a few years ago I finally
reach the level which I can buy anything that
I desire. At the same time I reached this plateau,
I also realized that I do not want anything that
I cannot afford. :-)

I agree,if you accept a job and it has a salary,then that what you've got. That being said, $25000 a year isn't possible to live off of with a family. If it not possible to live off that, then , you get better educated, dont ... More ›

I agree,if you accept a job and it has a salary,then that what you've got. That being said, $25000 a year isn't possible to live off of with a family. If it not possible to live off that, then , you get better educated, dont take the job, or work more than one. I'm sorry but I don't agree to the idea that a janitor should make the same as a Deputy, that's the crazy logic of government unions. That dog don't hunt. If these counties want better employees they have to pay more. If the people (voters) do not want to pay more for better employees, then don't complain if you get the same service you would at a fast food place. You do get the government you deserve and vote for.

Bear. Perhaps you can explain why
employees deserve a 'living wage' ?
You deserve the wage that you agreed
to when you accepted the job. Nothing
more, nothing less. You mentioned a work
week of 2o to 28 hours which allows ... More ›

Bear. Perhaps you can explain why
employees deserve a 'living wage' ?
You deserve the wage that you agreed
to when you accepted the job. Nothing
more, nothing less. You mentioned a work
week of 2o to 28 hours which allows ample
time to work at a second job. The fault
lies not with the pay scale but within
the worker's outlook on life. Lots of
persons with higher incomes earn them by
working 60 to seventy hours a week. Want more
money, get off your butt and earn it.

How can you gripe about employees making $9 an hour. That is not even enough to live on and we are talking about part time at that. They only work 20-28 hours a week. And how many of you would work for $25,000 a year? Not many, ... More ›

How can you gripe about employees making $9 an hour. That is not even enough to live on and we are talking about part time at that. They only work 20-28 hours a week. And how many of you would work for $25,000 a year? Not many, I'm sure. Benefits-mandatory that employees are on the county health insurance and deductibles are enormous. Most employees never meet the deductible which means they pay all their medical costs. Same goes for prescriptions. I don't enjoy paying taxes either, but that's life. These raises are piddly. They don't begin to be enough. Our county employees deserve a living wage-one that does not put them near the poverty line.

What about the annual pay increases La Vernia School Board keeps giving their employees. The one time stipend to just about everyone ever year along with 5% across the board pay increases drives me crazy.

LarryJohn, such a study does not exist. Both the former county auditor and the current one are unaware of one having ever been performed. The current auditor, Tom Dupnick, has insisted that one will be done.

I have heard the story that Wilson County pays less that the surrounding Counties for years as justification for above average pay increases. BUT several years ago I asked to see the study -- it did not exists.
I challenge ... More ›

I have heard the story that Wilson County pays less that the surrounding Counties for years as justification for above average pay increases. BUT several years ago I asked to see the study -- it did not exists.
I challenge the WCN to obtain a copy of the salary study of Wilson vs other Counties and publish in in the paper.
Another issue: An "across the board" 5% increase. I can believe that ALL County employees are performing at the same level. Some should get more based on their performance (and some less). The last time I asked the question about a job performance rating or evaluation system (like most companies use to determine pay raises) the County did not have one. Has that changes ?
NOTE: San Antonio has placed their future budgets "Over Top Top" due to large increases and not looking out to the future.
LarryJohn (La Vernia)

Let's compare employment packages instead of just salaries. All benefits (health, dental, annual/sick leave, etc.) that are paid for on behalf of the employee should also be considered in addition to the actual salaries paid.

Squawk, I'll be completely honest, my sympathies do not extend to politicians. My commentary is strictly for the regular county workers. I cant speak to people who have to get voted in for their jobs. But, are we comparing apples ... More ›

Squawk, I'll be completely honest, my sympathies do not extend to politicians. My commentary is strictly for the regular county workers. I cant speak to people who have to get voted in for their jobs. But, are we comparing apples to apples? Do all three counties have the same job positions? I know in two cases the answer is no. Wilson county has a full time health inspector and a full time septic inspector. Does the other two counties have the same? I believe that neither Medina nor Karnes County have health inspectors. And Karnes has a contracted septic inspector, but I'm not sure Medina has one at all. Do all three counties have the same amount of deputies? Maintenance? road and bridge crews? Its not easy to compare county to county when we don't have the data on fly as far as number of employees and county services offered, preformed or required by county ordinance.

Franklin.... According to the Tax-rates.org site
for Texas counties.
Wilson County $2048.00
Medina County $1122.00
Karnes County $845.00
Question 1. Is competent management and
establishment of sound priorities a ... More ›

Franklin.... According to the Tax-rates.org site
for Texas counties.
Wilson County $2048.00
Medina County $1122.00
Karnes County $845.00
Question 1. Is competent management and
establishment of sound priorities a reason
that Medina country can pay higher wages than
Wilson county and still have a lower tax rate ?
Question 2. Does Karnes county have a higher
crime rate or a less efficient county government
than Wilson county with their tax rate being quite
a bit less than half.
I await your explanation.

Squawk, The problem Karnes County is having is that they are loosing so many employees to the Eagle Ford. One of two things re going on down there, 1)They get employed making more money in the oil field, or 2)they struck oil ... More ›

Squawk, The problem Karnes County is having is that they are loosing so many employees to the Eagle Ford. One of two things re going on down there, 1)They get employed making more money in the oil field, or 2)they struck oil on their land and don't need the job and quit. It wont be long before you'll hear a store on the news about it im sure. So that brings up this issue, these counties down south typically paid far less the other counties in Texas. They have always been poorer counties and couldn't afford to pay county employees very much, but now, they are loosing these employee since there are other job options. The only way to stop the exodus is to pay comparable to other counties and sometimes even private companies. Example:If a guy can make $10 and hour operating a road maintainer for the county but $20 an hour working for an oil field company doing the same thing building oil drilling pad sites, where would you go? Road crew guys have the most to gain by working for a private company, and counties aren't going to be able to keep good people unless they pay better.

I think it is time to start a petition to stop Wilson County and the Local ISDs from giving pay increases without tax payer's approval. This is way out of hand and needs to be addressed by the people who's money is footing the bill.

Envy, greed, redistribution of wealth,
and perceived income inequality are
alive and well in Wilson county government
in their quest to confiscate money from
one to enrich another. BTW, why was Medina
county picked over ... More ›

Envy, greed, redistribution of wealth,
and perceived income inequality are
alive and well in Wilson county government
in their quest to confiscate money from
one to enrich another. BTW, why was Medina
county picked over our adjoining counties
to the south and east ? I guess they didn't
fit the narrative.